Sheniang wouldn't let Madam Yu fight her battles, but she certainly wasn't idle herself. When Yueniang came to ask her about it, she said bluntly, "Now even meals at home are graded by rank. I truly don't understand why a household needs such distinctions. The court distributes salaries according to official rank—I wonder what standard our household uses?"
"Sister, you're being too harsh," Yueniang said, inwardly cursing her mother's poor handling of the matter. She knew Sheniang was not one to be trifled with—her tongue was sharp as a blade.
Of course Sheniang would speak up herself. If Madam Yu did it for her, it would become a matter between the adults and breed resentment. But she was just a child—if she had grievances, she could simply voice them. At the very least, people would fear her words and treat her better.
She told Yueniang about it, and by dinner, everyone was served the same portions.
After the evening meal, Second Old Madam Weng arrived with her two granddaughters. Old Madam Pei invited them all over for a chat.
Liniang nudged Sheniang. "Do you know anything about Second Granduncle's two girls?"
"No." Given her current status, Sheniang naturally wouldn't know them—though in her previous life, she had known them quite well, even maintaining regular contact.
Leaving the Western Courtyard and passing through two covered corridors, they arrived at Old Madam Pei's residence.
Beside Old Madam Pei sat a plump, fair-skinned old lady who looked kind and amiable—this was Second Old Madam Weng. Her daughter-in-law, Madam Liu, seemed cut from the same mold, soft and round like a glutinous rice ball.
Madam Liu also came from a local aristocratic family. Though from a cadet branch, she had borne her husband one son and two daughters. Her husband served as the county magistrate—a veritable local power.
However, the fact that Sheniang and her sisters remained unmarried after coming of age was partly due to Madam Liu. Her eldest daughter, after marrying, had been caught in an adulterous affair, and the scandal had spread far and wide.
At this moment, Madam Liu's two daughters stood neatly behind her, paying their respects to Madam Yu.
Madam Liu was introducing them: "These are my eldest daughter, Lingrong, and my second daughter, Lingyi."
Madam Yu introduced her own daughters in turn. After presenting Liniang, she pulled Sheniang forward and said, "This is my youngest daughter, fifth in the senior branch. Her name is Langhuan, with the childhood name Sheniang."
"'Langhuan'—from Yi Shizhen's Records of Langhuan, referring to the blessed land of Langhuan. A fine name," Madam Liu praised.
Sheniang smiled. "Auntie flatters me. Your niece is unworthy of such praise."
Then Second Old Madam Weng said to Old Madam Pei, "Sister-in-law, every one of your girls is so well-mannered. Our two girls are quite put to shame."
Old Madam Pei waved her hand. "Sister-in-law, don't say that. Your Lingrong is known as the most beautiful woman east of the Yellow River—I heard of her reputation even in the capital."
Second Old Madam Weng made modest disclaimers, but inwardly she was bursting with pride. Her eldest granddaughter was stunningly beautiful, shrewd and ambitious, and through her eldest uncle's connections had secured an excellent marriage to the eldest son of the Shanxi Regional Military Commissioner.
At this point, Madam Lu served hot tea, and the adults discussed funeral arrangements.
Yueniang led the sisters to the side chamber for conversation. Pei Lingrong had always held herself in high regard—born into the prestigious Pei clan of Hedong, with generations of official service, doted on by parents and elder brother, beautiful and clever besides—she had always felt untouchable. But today, seeing the girls of the senior branch, she felt rather ashamed of her own inadequacy.
Even the youngest, Sheniang and Shunniang, carried themselves with remarkable poise.
Since they were all strangers to one another, the conversation was light—what books they'd read, what foods they favored, and so on.
They had chatted for barely the time it takes to drink a cup of tea when Second Old Madam Weng took her leave, and Old Madam Pei dismissed the gathering. Sheniang and Liniang walked back with Madam Yu, the sisters chatting while Madam Yu smiled gently. Behind them, Yiniang narrowed her eyes.
"Nanny Chang, are you saying my mother sought out Sixth Aunt before she died?" Yiniang asked.
Nanny Chang nodded. "Indeed she did."
Yiniang gave a slight nod. "I will get to the bottom of this sooner or later."
The Pei family had escorted the coffin all the way back, and now they would hold forty-nine days of Buddhist rites at home, inviting numerous monks and Taoist priests to perform the ceremonies. The body had been packed in ice throughout the journey, so Old Master Pei's remains had not decomposed. When Sheniang came to wail at the spirit altar, she saw incense smoke curling everywhere, and the men of the family keeping vigil on straw mats.
Madam Lu was arranging the space for the monks and priests when her heart suddenly seized—she fainted on the spot.
Old Madam Pei assessed the situation on the spot: "We can't pile all the burdens on one pair of shoulders, or everyone will be exhausted. Eldest daughter-in-law, you've always been frail, so I won't ask much of you—just handle the comings and goings of the titled ladies, and mind the proprieties. Fourth daughter-in-law, you help as well. And Sixth daughter-in-law—you've always been gracious and generous. It's time you began managing household affairs. Otherwise, when your husband becomes an official, will you still know nothing when asked?"
The household management duties that had been declined fell squarely on Madam Yu's shoulders.
Sheniang had never feared great matters. She said, "Mother, since you've taken on the household management, let me assist you. First, I can learn the arts of stewardship. Second, there's strength in numbers—at the very least, I'll keep you company."
"Alright." Madam Yu was touched by Sheniang's concern, even though it was just a child's words.
Little did she know that Sheniang actually wanted to follow her to figure out what exactly had gone wrong in Madam Yu's affairs.
With Old Madam Pei's approval, the household management token was quickly brought over. Madam Lu thought it was actually better for Madam Yu to manage the household than Madam Cao, as Madam Yu had a gentle temperament and was not overly power-hungry.
As for Madam Cao, though she had already finished her post-natal confinement, Old Madam Pei felt she was too fond of stirring up trouble and thus never considered her. She deeply resented Yiniang for exposing the matter, which had caused her to lose face completely, and her hatred for her stepdaughter grew even stronger.
Setting aside Madam Cao's affairs, the first thing Madam Yu did upon receiving the household management token was to arrange the location for the monks and Taoists to chant scriptures.
Nanny Chen and Nanny Xia each suggested several places, but Madam Yu found none of them suitable.
Sheniang then said, "Mother, have the steward bring the style manuals (yangshi lei). Based on those, ask someone to determine which location is best. Once the survey is done, we can begin the rites."
"That makes sense. Nanny Chen, have someone bring the style manuals." Madam Yu felt that problems she found extremely difficult were often solved by her daughter in an instant.
After Nanny Chen left, Sheniang stepped forward again and said, "Mother, for the monks' and Taoists' meals, the scriptures they chant, the incense, and the ritual instruments—these all need two groups of people assigned to oversee them. One group specifically for the monks, and one specifically for the Taoists. Have you thought of candidates? If not, you could ask Second Aunt and Fifth Aunt to recommend some capable people from their households."
Madam Yu thought it over and found the plan excellent. It would foster goodwill with the two branches—at least they wouldn't openly cause trouble—and by gathering all their trusted people in one place, if there was a shortage of hands, she could simply send in her own people.
Cuilan immediately went to relay the message. Madam Lu, seeing that Madam Yu treated her with such respect—unlike Madam Cao who would start scolding before anything even began—smiled and said, "Your mistress is quite cautious."
"Second Madam, you don't know—our mistress says she's like a duck forced onto a perch. She only wants to see Old Master's funeral through and then return the management authority. She's already at her wit's end, which is why she sent me to seek your guidance." Cuilan was skilled with words.
After hearing this, Madam Lu gave a list of names. Cuilan noted them down and then went to Madam Cao's place, repeating the same speech.
By this time, Madam Yu had already decided to have the monks chant the Great Compassion Mantra in the main hall of the mourning area, and to hold the Taoist rites in the Listening to Qin Pavilion.
At noon, Sheniang and Liniang accompanied Madam Yu for a meal. Liniang didn't want to brave the cold wind, nor did she want to trouble herself with worries, so naturally she wouldn't accompany Sheniang in helping Madam Yu with the tedious household affairs. But Sheniang didn't blame her sister.
After all, in the time they had spent together these past days, Liniang had shown genuine concern for her from time to time—better than expected. Moreover, just as the tangerine grown south of the Huai River becomes a sweet orange, and north of it becomes a bitter trifoliate orange, while one's innate nature is important, in their previous lives, she and her sister had been raised by different people, and external factors were equally significant.
Besides, this was not the time for internal strife—they should be united against external threats.
With Madam Yu managing the household, the meals were quite plentiful, but she dared not serve lavish meat dishes where they could be seen. At the roadside inns along the way, people turned a blind eye, but now with people coming and going, everyone ate vegetarian. Only after the forty-nine days of mourning could they eat meat.
However, Madam Yu had barely taken a few bites when someone came to report that Lady Kangping and the Prefect's wife had arrived for a visit, requesting that she instruct the kitchen to prepare refreshments.
Old Master Pei had once been a top candidate for the Grand Secretariat. Though his death was sudden, the Hedong Pei clan was still a prominent family.
Sheniang knew this was also the last glory of the Pei family. Madam Yu set down her chopsticks and went personally to arrange the refreshments, while Sheniang continued eating with Liniang.
After finishing the meal, Sheniang was still worried about her mother and prepared to go find Madam Yu.
But Liniang said, "Why are you going out at a time like this?"
"I have my reasons for going out. Do you want to come with me?" she asked.
Liniang shook her head. "No. It's chaotic outside. It's more comfortable indoors."
Sheniang nodded absently and went out with her two maidservants. She first went near the kitchen, where she heard her mother had gone toward the east. She hurried forward but still didn't catch sight of her mother.
A deaf old woman saw her and gestured wildly. Sheniang said to Qiuju, "She must be hungry. Go to the kitchen and get her two yellow millet buns."
The deaf woman was said to have served Old Concubine Hua and was reportedly very capable. Later, when Old Concubine Hua was driven out, the woman was left deaf and mute. Fortunately, she had skillful hands and was very good at repairing jewelry, so she was allowed to stay.
However, she was only kept at the old residence, with her hair in disarray. Everyone treated her as easy to bully and made her empty the night soil.
When the deaf woman saw Qiuju return shortly with the yellow millet buns, she wolfed them down. Sheniang led her two maidservants forward and couldn't help asking them, "Do you know anything about Old Concubine Hua's story?"
Qiuju quickly shook her head. "Though I'm a household-born servant, I was too young at the time. I don't know about these things."
Dongmei hesitated slightly. "I've vaguely heard a few things, but they may not be true."
"What did you hear, then? Never mind—we'll discuss this once we're back." Sheniang said with a smile.
Suddenly, she walked to the side chamber up ahead and saw Nanny Chang and Cuixiu both keeping watch there, so she hurried over.
Cuixiu and Nanny Chang quickly paid their respects, explaining that Third Miss and Sixth Madam were inside conversing and had asked them to stand guard outside.
Sheniang's heart gave a sudden lurch—could the unexpected turn of events lie here?